Vietnam has recorded 17,410 people infected with hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD) since the beginning of 2014 in 62 out of the total 63 cities and provinces nationwide, said the Ministry of Health. The number of HFMD patients dropped by 20% on year, the ministry was cited by the Cong An Nhan Dan newspaper as saying on April 29. Ho Chi Minh City and Ba Ria Vung Tau, however, reported respective increases of 28.9% and 34.4% in the number of infections. Health experts earlier said the contagious disease is spreading fast across the country due to changing weather patterns and lack of preventive measures as well as people’s low awareness of prevention. In 2012, Vietnam reported 45 deaths out of the total 151,100 infections cross the country, down 72.4% but up 41.3% on year, respectively. (cand.com.vn Apr 29)
